Chapter 5 I'll Give It A Try!

The two announcements made by the Dihau Group sent shockwaves throughout Jinling. It was only after learning that the group had changed ownership that the Xiao family finally understood why the Wang family had been pushed aside. Clearly, the new owner of Dihau Group had no interest in families like the Wangs. But the real question remained: Who was this mysterious Young Master Ye? This man was simply incredible. Acquiring a company worth hundreds of billions with a snap of the fingers... Even the greatest tycoons of Jinling had never shown such flair! Very quickly, all the powerful families were stirred. On one hand, they hoped to forge a connection with this enigmatic new master. On the other, they dreamed of marrying their daughters to him. At the same time, the announcement of a twenty-billion investment in a hotel project shook the entire construction and interior design industry of Jinling. Twenty billion! Even the smallest subcontract could make a fortune! Every company wanted a slice of the pie. And old Madam Xiao, greedier than ever, was certainly not left behind. She was ecstatic: a twenty-billion project was a golden opportunity! If the Xiao family could secure even one contract, their rise would be guaranteed! She immediately called for a family meeting that evening at their villa to discuss how to take advantage of this project. All members of the Xiao family were required to attend. That evening, at the Xiao villa. Since everyone had been summoned, Ye Chen naturally joined the meeting. He knew the old woman wanted to discuss ways to secure a contract with the Dihau Group. And he intended to use this meeting to improve his wife Xiao Churan’s reputation. As soon as they arrived, Churan’s cousin, Xiao Hailong, couldn’t help but mock him. "Fuck, Ye Chen, you’ve got some thick skin to show up here!" Xiao Churan, face closed off, replied coldly. "Spare us your nonsense. Grandma demanded that all members of the Xiao family attend. And Ye Chen is my husband, so he’s part of the family." Xiao Hailong burst out laughing. "Him? A member of the family? He’s just a son-in-law dragged in by force!" Ye Chen, unfazed, tapped his nose and said softly to his wife, "Forget it, darling. Ignore him. Let’s go in, we shouldn’t keep Grandma waiting." Churan nodded and walked in without sparing Hailong a glance, Ye Chen following her. Hailong, annoyed, silently vowed to get back at him later. In the meeting room, Ye Chen and Churan found a discreet seat in the corner. Soon after, old Madam Xiao entered with a determined expression. Sitting at the head of the table, she tapped it lightly and declared enthusiastically, "For years, our family has waited for the opportunity to rise to the top of Jinling. And now, that opportunity is finally here!" She continued, her tone more excited. "The Dihau Group just announced a twenty-billion hotel project. Whoever manages to secure even a partial contract will reap enormous benefits!" "And this is their very first project under the new ownership. This is a golden chance for our family!" "If we manage to collaborate with the Dihau Group and make a good impression on the new owner, the Xiao family’s future will be bright!" But despite her excitement, the room remained frozen. No one moved. After all, the Xiao family had tried for a long time to work with Dihau, without success. The group had always ignored them. How could they expect anything now, with a new owner? Annoyed by the silence, the old woman frowned. "What’s wrong? Have you all gone mute? Don’t you even have the confidence to secure a tiny contract?" Everyone avoided her gaze, hesitant to speak. Furious, she snapped. "I’ll make this announcement right now: whoever can get a thirty-million contract with the Dihau Group will be promoted to general manager of our group!" A stunned silence followed. She had never created this position before, as the general manager was considered the group’s successor. By offering this reward, she hoped to motivate her descendants. She desperately wanted to land this partnership. But in reality, even such a prestigious offer wasn’t enough. Getting a thirty-million contract with Dihau seemed completely unrealistic. Even if the old woman went herself, the executives at Dihau probably wouldn’t even give her a meeting. A heavy silence settled in the room. She exploded. "You’re all heirs of the Xiao family, and not one of you dares to take on this challenge?" Then she turned her eyes toward Hailong. "Hailong, you’ll do it!" He gave her an awkward smile. "Grandma, even the Wang family was kicked out… and they’re stronger than us. We have no chance." She erupted. "Useless! You’re worse than that good-for-nothing Ye Chen!" Deep down, she knew it was risky. But she refused to remain the head of a second-rate clan forever. She dreamed of the Xiao family finally rising. And this Dihau project was their only real chance. She had expected her eldest grandson, Hailong, to accept without hesitation, but he was already backing down. Hailong had no desire to embarrass himself. He knew he’d be turned away before he even got through the door. After reprimanding him, she shouted, "Is there anyone else willing to take on this challenge?" Ye Chen gently nudged Churan and whispered, "Darling, take this project." She jumped. "Are you crazy? The Dihau Group would never work with a small company like ours!" He smiled confidently. "Don’t worry. You can do it, I’m sure of it." "Really?" "Absolutely. This is your chance to shine in the family." For some reason, Churan suddenly believed him. And almost instinctively, she stood up. "Grandma, I’d like to try…"